Thompson Brothers: Iconic 1950s Wooden Runabouts and the Move to Fiberglass If you grew up boating in the 1950s, you likely remember the era of affordable wooden runabouts that became a common sight on lakes and rivers. Among the best-known names of that period was the Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company of Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Thompson … Read more

Intrepid Powerboats marks its 40th anniversary this year, celebrated for pioneering advances in center-console design and performance. The company has introduced numerous industry firsts while continually refining construction, fit and finish, and its single-step hull technology. Ken Clinton, who has been with Intrepid for 32 years and served as president for the past 14, has … Read more

The steamboat Lexington departed its Manhattan pier on a bitterly cold afternoon, January 13, 1840, bound for Stonington, Connecticut. It never reached its destination. Before nightfall, a fire consumed the vessel and all but four of the roughly 150 people on board perished, making the disaster one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in Long Island … Read more

Jack L. Gray: “In the Roaring Forties on the Deck of a Four-Masted Bark” Water cascades over the rail and drenches the deck in Jack L. Gray’s dramatic oil painting, “In the Roaring Forties on the Deck of a Four-Masted Bark.” The canvas captures a moment of raw sea power: whitecapped waves and gale-driven spray … Read more

When Grady-White introduced the 251 Coastal Explorer in 2014, it stood out from the builder’s traditional lineup as the company’s first hybrid center console—designed to serve both anglers and families who wanted a versatile boat for inshore and nearshore adventures. With lower gunwales than typical Grady models, dual casting platforms and a hull that combined … Read more

Michael Cevoli: Documentary Photographer of New England’s Working Waterfront Michael Cevoli documents the people and places of New England’s maritime life with a steady, observant eye. Whether he’s shooting portraits of commercial fishermen, tugboat pilots, boatbuilders or Mainers digging seaworms up to their elbows in soft mud, his photographs aim to record honest moments rather … Read more

Remembering Capt. Peter B. Wright: Lessons from a Granders Legend Capt. Kevin Nakamaru first met Capt. Peter B. Wright in 1991 when Kevin was in his early 20s and working as a mate on a Kona-based charter boat. Wright, who died in February, was already legendary in the big-game fishing world. A U.S.-born skipper, Peter … Read more

Chris-Craft Launch 25 GTe: Electric-Propulsion Prototype Debuts at Miami Boat Show At the Miami International Boat Show in February, Chris-Craft revealed the Launch 25 GTe prototype — the brand’s first electric-propulsion boat. For many visitors, the reveal required a second look. The 25-foot vessel preserves the classic Chris-Craft aesthetic and finishes, but carries a modern … Read more

Boston Boatworks BB52 Offshore Express Cruiser: Purpose-Built for the Owner-Operator Scott Smith, co-founder and CEO of Boston Boatworks, recalls a defining moment at the Massachusetts yard: after 27 years of building boats for others, the team finally had the chance to design and build a model under their own name. “When we were given the … Read more

Solo Skipper Ian Herbert-Jones Signals for Rescue After Dismasting in South Atlantic Storm British solo skipper Ian Herbert-Jones activated his emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) after his yacht was dismasted during a severe South Atlantic storm. According to reports, the vessel endured wind gusts exceeding 80 knots and waves up to 25 feet, which left … Read more